Corbin chamber offers members free web sites

Corbin Chamber of Commerce members will get a valuable new benefit with their membership dues – a new website.

Kevin Norvell, Director of Eastern Kentucky University’s Small Business Development Center was the featured speaker at the Chamber’s monthly membership luncheon Tuesday, and he laid out a plan for the center to assist members of the organization in design of a functional, professional website.

“It’s kind of been a passion of mine over this past year to really help small business clients get a better understanding of technology and how they can use technology in their business,” Norvell told the group.

“The way you’ve done business in the past is probably not the way you will do business in the future.”
Through a spoken and visual presentation, Norvell showed how businesses can easily obtain a domain name, hosting space and begin designing a new website using Microsoft Office Live Business – a “rapidly evolving web platform” that came out of beta testing this past June, providing free website and client tools to businesses and potential entrepreneurs.

Norvell showed some sites he’s designed using Office Live Business, including one for his own business, a Radio Shack franchise store in north Corbin.

Lorie Roaden, with Creech and Gibbs Pharmacy, said the website for that business, made using Office Live Business, has been a success.

“Times are changing and the Internet is almost unlimited,” she said. “I’m loving it.”
The Creech and Gibbs website allows the pharmacy to offer customers an online refill option so that prescription refills are ready when they get to the store with little waiting.

Microsoft Office Live Business does not have to be purchased, and nothing is installed onto a computer.
“This is really a marketing exercise. You are not really a web designer, don’t think of yourself as that,” Norvell said. “This is just a new way that you are marketing your business and organizations and reaching out to your customers, both existing and potential.”

Corbin Director of Economic Development Bruce Carpenter said renovated conference room space in the chamber’s offices on Depot Street will be used as a center point for Norvell to begin hosting sessions with those interested in the new perk.

“The beauty of this is having someone here with the knowledge and expertise to help you develop this and move forward,” Carpenter said. “We are excited and I think it is one of the greatest things we have been able to offer our chamber members. The cost of membership is going to be well worth it.”

Norvell was named Director of the Small Business Development Center at EKU in January 2008. The organization serves 15 counties in eastern Kentucky, including Whitley County, and is designed to assist small businesses in planning, consulting and training.

Also during the luncheon, new Chamber of Commerce President Joe House honored outgoing chamber Board of Director members Bill Hanson, Christy Babb and Marlon Sams. Newly elected members Don Estep, Andy Kersey, Rebecca Myers and Tom Blair were also recognized.